iGaming North America

Now in its sixth year, iGaming North America is an event designed to facilitate relationships between the land based and online gambling businesses operating in the regulated US iGaming Market.  The event provides access to gaming industry veterans, poker players, regulators, trade publication super stars and other senior level speakers, creating a balanced environment of sessions and networking opportunities.

Returning this year are the iGNA Awards, organized in partnership with iGaming Business.  The awards will take place during lunch on the third day of the event and are free for all delegates to attend.

What: iGaming North America

The hits just keep on coming for Canadian online gambling operator Amaya Gaming, which is being sued in US federal court over its growing insider trading scandal.

On Thursday, Maryland-based investor Harvey Weisman filed a proposed class action complaint in the US Southern District of New York (SDNY), alleging that Amaya failed to disclose the shenanigans of its embattled CEO David Baazov, who announced this week that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company.

Baazov, along with another Amaya exec and a former financial advisor, were charged with insider trading last week, while 13 other individuals – including Baazov’s older brother Josh – had their trading privileges suspended by the securities regulator in Amaya’s home province of Quebec over sketchy Amaya-related trading activity dating back to 2010.

Weisman says Amaya had a duty to disclose Baazov’s trading activity and also failed to properly disclose deficiencies in its internal controls. Weisman claims that false and/or misleading statements by Amaya execs caused the company’s share price to be artificially inflated before shedding over one-fifth its value following last week’s AMF charges.

The hits just keep on coming for Canadian online gambling operator Amaya Gaming, which is being sued in US federal court over its growing insider trading scandal.

On Thursday, Maryland-based investor Harvey Weisman filed a proposed class action complaint in the US Southern District of New York (SDNY), alleging that Amaya failed to disclose the shenanigans of its embattled CEO David Baazov, who announced this week that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company.

Baazov, along with another Amaya exec and a former financial advisor, were charged with insider trading last week, while 13 other individuals – including Baazov’s older brother Josh – had their trading privileges suspended by the securities regulator in Amaya’s home province of Quebec over sketchy Amaya-related trading activity dating back to 2010.

Weisman says Amaya had a duty to disclose Baazov’s trading activity and also failed to properly disclose deficiencies in its internal controls. Weisman claims that false and/or misleading statements by Amaya execs caused the company’s share price to be artificially inflated before shedding over one-fifth its value following last week’s AMF charges.

The Global Poker League has released further details of their inaugural season including the additions of Sam Grafton and Griffin Benger to the commentary team and news of a Wembley showdown.

The Global Poker League (GPL) is heading to Wembley.

“3 years ago it was an idea, 2 years ago it was a Word Document, 1 year ago it was a PowerPoint, next week it’s going live.” Said the brains behind the GPL: Alex Dreyfus.

Que sera sera.

The Global Poker League has released further details of their inaugural season including the additions of Sam Grafton and Griffin Benger to the commentary team and news of a Wembley showdown.

The Global Poker League (GPL) is heading to Wembley.

“3 years ago it was an idea, 2 years ago it was a Word Document, 1 year ago it was a PowerPoint, next week it’s going live.” Said the brains behind the GPL: Alex Dreyfus.

Que sera sera.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he’ll actively campaign against allowing casinos in the north half of the state unless Atlantic City accedes to his demand for a state takeover of the city’s finances.

Christie had been a vocal proponent of allowing two new casinos in north Jersey, and state residents will get a chance to vote yea or nay on the issue via a ballot referendum this November. But Christie now says the issue is bound to be rejected unless AC gets its fiscal house in order ASAP, and the only way he sees that happening is if the state takes control.

On Thursday, Christie held a press conference, at which he claimed there was “no way voters will approve the expansion of gaming when the only place where gaming has been allowed goes down the toilet.” Christie believes AC is “headed for a disaster” along with the prospect of north Jersey gaming “if we don’t get our act together.”

Clearly missing the gene that allows one to discern irony, Christie claimed it was high time “to stop all the theater,” then vowed to “campaign across the state against the referendum” if AC mayor Don Guardian continues to resist calls to sign over financial control of the city. “And I’ll make sure [the referendum is] defeated.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he’ll actively campaign against allowing casinos in the north half of the state unless Atlantic City accedes to his demand for a state takeover of the city’s finances.

Christie had been a vocal proponent of allowing two new casinos in north Jersey, and state residents will get a chance to vote yea or nay on the issue via a ballot referendum this November. But Christie now says the issue is bound to be rejected unless AC gets its fiscal house in order ASAP, and the only way he sees that happening is if the state takes control.

On Thursday, Christie held a press conference, at which he claimed there was “no way voters will approve the expansion of gaming when the only place where gaming has been allowed goes down the toilet.” Christie believes AC is “headed for a disaster” along with the prospect of north Jersey gaming “if we don’t get our act together.”

Clearly missing the gene that allows one to discern irony, Christie claimed it was high time “to stop all the theater,” then vowed to “campaign across the state against the referendum” if AC mayor Don Guardian continues to resist calls to sign over financial control of the city. “And I’ll make sure [the referendum is] defeated.”

In this week’s Calling the Clock we bring you news of David Baazov’s decision to step down temporarily from his position at Amaya Gaming, schedule information and wildcard details from the Global Poker League, and much more.

The David Baazov saga continued this week after the chairman/CEO of Amaya Gaming temporarily stepped down from his position so he could ‘focus on preparing an offer to acquire Amaya and to avoid a distraction for the company’.

The ‘distraction’ Baazov refers to is the range of allegations of insider trading fired at him by Quebec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Baazov will continue to draw a salary during his holiday. Rational Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi will take over the CEO responsibilities on a temporary basis. Amaya director Divyesh Gadhia will handle the chairman bits and bobs.

The story carved out an exciting open loop this week after a Montreal rag revealed that Baazov’s older brother Josh was one of 13 people named in a separate AMF action. The reports claimed that Baazov the Elder used information falling out of the mouth of his younger sibling to benefit from inch perfect stock trades in cohorts with Craig Levett. The amount bandied about is $1.5m in illicit profits. It will be interesting to see ho this particular loop closes.

In this week’s Calling the Clock we bring you news of David Baazov’s decision to step down temporarily from his position at Amaya Gaming, schedule information and wildcard details from the Global Poker League, and much more.

The David Baazov saga continued this week after the chairman/CEO of Amaya Gaming temporarily stepped down from his position so he could ‘focus on preparing an offer to acquire Amaya and to avoid a distraction for the company’.

The ‘distraction’ Baazov refers to is the range of allegations of insider trading fired at him by Quebec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Baazov will continue to draw a salary during his holiday. Rational Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi will take over the CEO responsibilities on a temporary basis. Amaya director Divyesh Gadhia will handle the chairman bits and bobs.

The story carved out an exciting open loop this week after a Montreal rag revealed that Baazov’s older brother Josh was one of 13 people named in a separate AMF action. The reports claimed that Baazov the Elder used information falling out of the mouth of his younger sibling to benefit from inch perfect stock trades in cohorts with Craig Levett. The amount bandied about is $1.5m in illicit profits. It will be interesting to see ho this particular loop closes.